Each player puts an equal amount of chips, usually $1.00, into the pot. Deal 13 cards to each player. Each player makes 3 poker hands, a bottom, a middle, and a top. The bottom hand is made with 3 cards, and the other 2 hands are made of 5 cards. The order of hands for the bottom hand, from highest to lowest, is:
Three-of-a-kind
Pair
High card
Additionally, the middle hand must be able to beat the bottom hand, and the top hand must be able to beat the middle hand.
All players reveal their bottom hand; the highest hand wins 1/4 of the pot.
All players then reveal their middle hand; the highest hand wins 1/2 of the pot.
All players then reveal their top hand; the highest hand wins the last 1/4 of the pot.
When opening in tight games in any position or loose games in late position, your attention should be on getting heads up with a blind or outright stealing the blinds.
